Follow the NN/LM SCR

Archive for 2010

Geolocation is broadly defined as the identification of the real-world geographic location of an object. Geolocation applications used in cell phones rely on GPS technology to identify the location of the cell phone. Geolocation can also be used to identify digital objects. Location “tagging” is seen in photo sharing sites such as Flickr which offers geotagging. This location tag provides a way to search for images or information shared about a specific location.

The geolocation concept took off in 2010. Social media applications such as Facebook began allowing users to check into locations using mobile devices and tell others where they were and what they were doing. Other applications including Foursquare and Gowalla saw growth through 2010.

Drawing people to geolocation is the ability to report in real-time about the experiences or interactions a person is having. Yelp also launched a geolocation feature in 2010. With Yelp users can now check into their favorite spot and report on the quality of their experience as it happens.

Sites such as Gowalla and Foursquare provide users with a more social approach to geolocation. Users can check in at locations and earn badges, points and even special deals from specific locations. Both of these applications also provide the user a way to take photos of locations and share tips and commentary with others.

The American Medical Association recently released advice for physicians interested in geolocation in the article Geolocation services: Have your patients put you on the map? While patients might use geolocation applications, it is important that physicians do not violate HIPAA regulations. Additionally the article reminds physicians that many geolocation applications work well for business promotion but may not be appropriate for medical practices. The article does encourage physicians to review location information for accuracy to ensure the contact information for the practice is listed correctly.

For librarians and information professionals, the use of geolocation applications could be useful for promoting library services and interacting with library users. Many public libraries have had success using geolocation application such as Foursquare to offer specials and prizes for their frequent visitors. David Lee King provides some examples of libraries using Foursquare in his post, Libraries and Foursquare Definitely Something There!

Geolocation applications are also becoming popular during conferences. Look for prize opportunities at upcoming events you attend such as the Medical Library Association conference. You may be surprised when and where you can use geolocation applications.

Beginning over the summer search engine giant Bing began offering interactive health maps. These maps are designed to provide visualization of health data using a map interface. As part of the company’s work with the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Community Health Data Initiative, Bing launched Bing Health Maps in June.

Bing Health Maps allows users to select a state and then a community health indicator to explore. The map application divides the state into counties or parishes and overlays health indicator data for the location selected. By clicking on a county or parish, Bing Health Maps provides additional health indicators for the community. Data available through Bring Health Maps is tied to the data provided by the HHS. Data includes cancer rates, infant mortality rates and other health status indicators including reported obesity and exercise levels. Bing Health Maps provides a good starting point for anyone interested in learning more about community health status.

Bing Health Maps can be viewed using an Internet browser such as Firefox or Internet Explorer. Bing Health Maps is free but may require a free software installation or upgrade, depending on the browser being used.

Update 1/6/2011: The NN/LM SCR is happy to announce that we have arranged to have posters available directly from our office for our network members. Anyone interested in receiving a poster, email me directly (ruicha.mishra@exch.library.tmc.edu) with the number of posters you want and your mailing address and we will send them out to you soon.

The recording for the December 15, 2010 SCR CONNECTions webinar, Comparative Effectiveness Research with Ione Auston from the National Information Center on Health Services Research (NICHSR) division of the National Library of Medicine, is now available online at http://nnlm.gov/scr/training/webmeeting.html. Please note we experienced some trouble with captioning during this recording. Presentation materials are provided.

The next SCR CONNECTions will be held on Wednesday, January 19, 2011 at 10:30am CT. The topic will be determined soon, the focus will be on technology.

Registration is now open for the Disaster Information Outreach Symposium, to be held March 29-30, 2011 at the National Library of Medicine (NLM), Bethesda, Maryland. Information professionals, library staff, as well as students are encouraged to attend this free event. Seats are limited, so register early! The symposium, co-sponsored by NLM, the Medical Library Association, and the Special Libraries Association, will focus on librarians and libraries providing high quality health information during all phases of disaster preparedness, mitigation, response, and recovery.

Data is everywhere. Many of us collect data on a daily basis. From library statistics to personal records, data can be used to help us better understand our environment and make informed decisions. While data is vital to helping us make decisions, sometimes interpreting that data is difficult. While spreadsheets and data lists provide access to information, seeing patterns can be difficult. In many cases a visual representation of the data can be used to better demonstrate what the data is saying. When presenting library statistics to the board or when reviewing your weight loss, a visual representation of the data can help you or your audience understand what the data is telling you.

Data visualization helps us better use data to tell a story and connect with an audience. While many of us think of charts and graphs for data visualization, new technologies including advanced information graphics and mapping are taking data visualization to a new level. Newspapers such as the New York Times have been using data visualizations to add relevance to their news pieces and engage their readers. Many of these visualizations are online information graphics which can be manipulated by the reader. Try the tools in the New York Times Visualization Lab to get a feel for creating visual representations of data and information.

When sharing health information, data visualization can be a powerful tool. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have recently begun using data visualization to share health information through their eHealth Marketing campaign. The commercial project from GE, Healthymagination, makes health data visualizations available on their website Visualizing Data.

The NN/LM SCR will be offering the Promoting Health Literacy through Easy-to-Read Materials class at the Houston Academy of Medicine-Texas Medical Center Library in Houston:

Thursday, January 13, 2011
8:30 am – 12:30 pm

This is a 4-hour hands-on class. Participants in the class will gain experience in the large group and break-out groups to critique, rewrite and create materials that allow health and wellness information to be conveyed quickly and clearly. We’ll review the disconnect between information providers and information seekers, the process of educating adults, the success of “plain language” initiatives and the importance of text, type, graphics, space and layout. During the class you will review and edit documents to gain new awareness, new skills, and access to further resources. Clear health communication is the goal, regardless of medium.

Upon successful completion of this class, each participant will receive 4 hours of continuing education credit awarded by the Medical Library Association.